Receptacles



May 23,1961 Buss 2,985,335

RECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 19, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to receptacles and, more particularly, to molded plastic pails or similar containers provided with carrying bails.

The primary object of the present invention is theprovision of improved meansfor attaching -a bail to a molded plastic pail or the like, and in conjunction with this object of the invention it is a further object to provide the pail with an integral molded portion to receive the bail re-. taining means and to cooperate in holding the bail in position.

Another object is to provide a plastic pail or the like with a cover retaining device associated with the bail for preventing inadvertentdisplacement of the cover when the pail is being carried by the bail.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be'fully. understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pail embodying the present invention, without a cover;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the pail as seem from the arrow marked 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing a cover in position; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, on a smaller scale,-.of the pail showing a modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the pail made in accordance with the present invention comprises a receptacle or body portion 12 molded in one piece of a suitable plastic, for example, but without limitation, polyethylene. As here shown, said receptacle is provided with an integral peripheral flange 14 which preferably extends completely around the body of the pail and is disposed below the top edge 16 thereof. Said flange 14 has a laterally projecting horizontal portion 18 and a downwardly projecting vertical portion or skirt 20, which defines a recess 22 under the flange 18 completely around the body of the pail.

The integral peripherally extending portion or rib 24 which is disposed above the horizontal part 18 of the flange 14 is provided with a horizontal shoulder 25 on which a cover C may be seated, for example as illustrated in my application, Serial No. 605, 992, filed August 24, 1956, now US. Patent No. 2,885,107, the subject matter of the present application being related to the subject matter of my said prior application. As illustrated in Fig. 3, said cover has a recess 27 in which the upper part of the rib is received, said recess being defined by the inner and outer rims 27a and 27b of the cover C. It will be understood that said rims are peripherally continuous and have a snug releasable engagement with the adjacent portions of the rib 24.

The pail 10 is provided with a bail 26 which is conventionally formed of stiif metal wire. The ends of said bail are secured to the pail by the retaining members 28. Each of said retaining members is provided with a bent looped portion 30 which projects through an opening 32 ice j in the horizontal portion 18 of flange 14, and said retaining member comprises the integral portions 34 extending in opposite directions from the base of intermediate portion 30 and are positioned in the recess 22 under the horizontal flange portion 18, as clearly illustrated by the drawings.

It will be noted that as illustrated in Fig. 3, the upwardly bent portions or ears '30 of the retaining members 28, not only project upwardly but also are inclined up wardly and outwardly in a direction away from the outer edge of the rib 24. Thus, the ends of the bail and the ears 30 of the retaining member being thus normally spaced from the rib 24 do not interfere with the attachment or removal of a cover for the pail. 0n the other hand, when the pail is carried with contents therein, the

retaining members 28 may flex or move due to the Weight of the contents of the pail toward the rib 24 so that the looped portions 30 may releasably engage the rim 27b of the cover, to prevent inadvertent displacement thereof from the receptacle. .When the pail is set down, the

members 30 automatically move away from the rib 24 so as not to interfere with the removal of the cover or its placement on the receptacle. It will be understood that flange 1 4 is somewhat resilient, especially when the pail is made of polyethylene, so that the members can ,1 move toward the rib when the pail is lifted by the bail and are moved byfresilienoy of flange 14 away from the rib automatically when the bail is released. It will bev observed further that the individual retaining members 28 employed pursuant to the preferred embodiment in the present invention, as hereinbefore described, enables pail is of the same construction as that illustrated by Figs.

1 to- 3,' but instead of ntilizingtwo separate retaining members 28 for the bail 26, the retaining members 28' are formed in one piece with a peripherally extending ring part 34' which is seated in the recess 22 and extends completely therearound. In all other respects the construction of the pail 10A illustrated by Fig. 4 is the same as the construction of the pail 10, and while the bail-attaching means of Fig. 4 is satisfactory, the attaching means hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 is presently preferred because of its additional advantages.

It will be understood that certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of my present invention. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the construction herein shown or described except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pail comprising a molded plastic receptacle body, a peripheral flange integral with said body near the top thereof, and a peripheral rib extending upwardly from said flange to provide a seat for a cover, said flange having a peripherally extending horizontal portion projecting laterally of said receptacle body and provided with a pair of diametrically opposite openings therethrough disposed laterally outwardly of said rib, a bail for said pail, and means attaching the opposite ends of said bail to said receptacle body, said attaching means having portions positioned under said horizontal portion of the flange and portions projecting vertically through said openings adjacent said rib, respectively, and secured to the opposite ends, respectively, of said bail, said flange also having a vertical downwardly extending portion at its outer peripheral edge spaced from and confronting the upper part of said peripheral body and defining therewith a recess in which said first mentioned portions of said attaching means are positioned.

2. A pail comprising a molded plastic receptacle body, a peripheral flange integral with said body near the top thereof, said flange having a peripherally extending horizontal portion projecting lateral-1y of said receptacle body and provided with a pair of diametrically opposite openings therethrough, abail :for said pail, and means attaching the opposite ends of said bail to said receptacle body, said attaching means having portions positioned under said horizontal portion of the flange and. portions projecting vertically through said openings, respectively, and secured to the opposite ends, respectively, of said bail, said receptacle body having an upstanding cover-engageable rib above said flange, said. openings in the flanges being disposed laterally outwardly of said rib, and said' projecting portions of said attachmentmeans extending upwardly and laterally in inclined relation to' said rib, said flange also having a vertical downwardly extending portion at its outer peripheral edge spaced from and confronting the upper pa rt of said peripheral body and defining therewith a recess. in which said first mentioned portions of said attaching means are positioned.

3. A pail comprising a molded plasticreceptacle body, a peripheral flange integral with said body near the top thereof, said flange having a peripherally extending horizontal portion projecting laterally of said receptacle body and provided with a pair of diametrically opposite openings therethrough, a bail for said pail, and means attaching the opposite ends, of said bail to said receptacle body,,

said receptacle body having an upstanding cover-engageable rib above said flange, said openings in, the flanges being disposed laterally outwardly of said rib, said attach ing means comprising individual spaced retaining members disposed at said openings, respectively, each of said retaining members comprising a looped portion project ingvertically through theadjacent opening of said flange upwardly in diverging relation to said rib, and saidbail portion and said rib, said looped portions being movable in said openings, respectively, toward said rib under the force of the weight of the contents of the pail when the pail is lifted or carried by the bail, and being automatically movable away from said rib when the bail is released, said flange also having a vertical downwardly extending portion at its outer peripheral edge spaced from and confronting the upper part of said peripheral body v disposed laterally outwardly of said rib, said flange also having a vertical depending portion and defining an open bottom peripheral recess with the adjacent wall of the receptacle body, airing member disposed in said recess and having diametrically opposite bent-up loop portions projecting vertically through said openings adjacent said rib,'respectiyely, of said flange, and a bail having opposite end portions connected to said looped portions, said openings in the flanges being disposed laterally outwardly of said rib, respectively, of said ring member, said. flange also having a vertical downwardly extending portion at its attaching means are positioned.

1,665,828 White Apr. 10, 1 928 1,738,951 Hulbert Dec. 10, 1929 2,620,006 Sorron-Zabala Dec. 2, 1952 2,851,187 Hall Sept. 9, 1958.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,089,763 France Oct. 7, 1957 outer peripheral edge spaced from and confronting the upper parttof saidperipheral body anddefining therewith a recess in which said first mentioned portions of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

